Edith Cartner Koontz Miller
Published 10:29 am Monday, March 21, 2016
Edith Cartner Koontz Miller, 99, of Woodleaf, died Friday, March 18, 2016, at Carillon Assisted Living in Salisbury, surrounded by her family. She lived an active life until her health declined five months ago.
The funeral service was held Monday, March 21 at 3 p.m. at Woodleaf United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Sybil J. Perrell officiating. Visitation followed in the fellowship hall. A private burial service is planned.
Survivors: her only child, Nancy M. Wetmore; granddaughters, Barbara W. Murdock and Libby W. Watson (husband Artie); 2 great-grandchildren, Laura Elizabeth and Jacob Donald Watson; her “special” granchildren, Sara A. Bailey and Katie B. Chandler (husband Rob); and “special” great-grandchildren, Spence and Olivia “Liv” Chandler.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilburn Darr Miller (Jan. 23, 1997); son-in-law, William Spence “Bill” Wetmore Jr. (June 5, 2015); 2 brothers, Tom (Nora) and Roy (Nancy C.) Koontz; and 3 sisters, Carolyn Koontz, Betty Jean K. Freeman (Arthur) and Faye K. Dwiggins (Edd).
She was born Jan. 30, 1917, in Davie County, a daughter of the late Foley Wilson Koontz and Mary Cartner Koontz. She graduated from Cool Springs High School in Cool Springs in 1934. She married Wilburn Darr Miller in 1937 and moved to Rowan County, where they farmed for many years. She later was employed at Burlington Mills in Cooleemee as a clerk for more than 25 years until the mill closed in 1969. She then trained to be a certfied nursing assistant, but during her training at Davie County Hospital, she was approached by hospital officials because of her cooking skills and the need in the hospital food service department. She joined the hospital food service, earned her dietitian certification and was employed there for more than 20 years. She was known for her homemade rolls, chicken pies, and her speciality food at hospital events. She was a lifelong Methodist, serving as a member of Salem Methodist in Mocksville, and then South River and Woodleaf Methodist churches. In the Needmore and Woodleaf communities, she volunteered her skills as a quilter, needle worker, and cook at fund-raisers at churches. During winter months, the Women of the Church met for day-long quilting sessions in her home. With thousands of small stitches, they created hundreds of colorful quilts for family and friends, or for donations to churches and volunteer fire departments for fund-raising raffles.
Memorials: Woodleaf UMC Cemetery Fund, PO Box 299, Woodleaf, 27054; Unity Presbyterian Columbarium Fund, PO Box 28, Woodleaf, 27054; or Rowan Hospice/Palliative Care, 720 Grove St., Salisbury, 28144.